IPMS/USA Product Review: The Small Shop "Wire Assist" Bending Comb

The Small Shop

"Wire Assist" Bending Comb

Stock Number: SSWA

Reviewed By Jim Pearsall, IPMS# 2209

MSRP: $19.99
Review tool courtesy of The Small Shop.
Website: www.thesmallshop.com

I was working on a review of a Braille-scale artillery piece when I discovered that one of the parts was incompletely molded. It was a handle on the trail of the gun carriage. I knew I could make a replacement handle from wire; the problem has always been to get two handles that look alike. It happened that Dave Morrissette offered 4 different tools for PE and wire from The Small Shop, and I managed to beg and plead with sufficient pathos and emotion to get Dave to send me this fabulous tool. And I was able to produce two identical handles for the artillery piece in about a half hour.

I used tag wire, which is fairly soft metal wire. I determined which of the slots made the handle the width I needed and put the wire into the slots. I used a small pair of pliers to form the wire to match the corners on the tool, and then used wire cutters to match the length of the legs to the part on the sprue. Repeat, and you get another part exactly as wide as the first one. This is the beauty of this tool. I can bend wire with a pair of fine pliers and get the required shape. It’s getting the width of the handle repeatedly that’s the trick.

As you can see, the handles fit nicely on the trails.

This tool is really designed for model railroaders. You know, the guys who build huge dioramas with lots of moving parts. The grab irons and steps on a boxcar or locomotive are important. And I’ve got one project with an armor model where this tool can come in handy. How about aircraft? Well, the photo here is Zvezda’s Mi-26 Halo. The plastic steps were OK, but how much nicer/easier would it be to not have to remove the sprue connectors from all those steps. And this tool would enable you to make them identical in a very short time.

I am very enthusiastic about this tool. I recommend it. You can probably come up with 3 or 4 applications where this would make your models better. I’ve got 2 already.

My thanks to the Small Shop for the chance to review it- get one, you won’t be sorry you did.

[Editor's Note: The Small Shop is offering a coupon code for IPMS Members to receive a 10% discount on all products (not including shipping). Please click here for complete details.